Fort Collins' homeless shelters ready for the cold

Nov. 21, 2013

April Kenney, left, women's program coordinator, meets with residents Robert and Krisantha Haynes, and intern, Angie Miller, at the Fort Collins Rescue Mission on Nov. 14. Shelters and the city of Fort Collins are collaborating to ensure homeless people have places to sleep in the cold weather. / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

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Cold temperatures and a fresh layer of snow blanketing Fort Collins can be a double-edged sword for the homeless population.

Fort Collins’ homeless shelters and city of Fort Collins officials are working together to ensure that any homeless resident who wants or needs a shelter from the cold is safe and warm this winter.

A task force of local homeless service providers and city officials came together earlier this year to begin planning for the inevitable winter weather, said Glenn Good, regional director of Catholic Charities. The first step? More collaboration between Fort Collins’ shelters, Catholic Charities and the Fort Collins Rescue Mission.

The shelters communicate regularly to ensure that all available beds are being used, shuffling people as needed to increase capacity and even opening up cafeteria floors for men to sleep on mats.

“We put our heads together and find that first line of defense,” Good said.

Because there are fewer beds for women than men between the two shelters (due to an increased population of homeless men in the community), Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church has agreed to open a conference room in the building to house up to 10 women as needed.

Limited housing also exists for homeless families in Fort Collins, with Catholic Charities having a handful of family rooms and Faith Family Hospitality serving families in a longterm program. When beds for homeless families run out, Good said the group has secured funding to place families in motels for the night.

While Good did not have final shelter numbers for Wednesday as of Thursday morning, he said so far “our strategy is working.”

Fort Collins Rescue Mission spokeswoman Aneta Storvik said the shelter, 316 Jefferson St., was nearly maxed out Wednesday before snow had even touched Fort Collins. The shelter opened its cafeteria Thursday for shelter residents and passersby who needed a break from the cold.

“When the weather turns cold, Fort Collins Rescue Mission really starts thinking of the safety of the men and women we serve,” Storvik said. “We want them to be able to hang out in a warm environment.”

Sarah Jane Kyle is the Coloradoan reporter covering volunteerism, nonprofits and philanthropy. Follow her on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/reportersarahjane.